Stars allegedly 'fully prepared for grilling'; Delhi & report for DG Asthana next for NCB

Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Saturday recorded statements of actors Deepika Pukone, Shrdha Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan in drugs probe linked to Sushant Singh Rajput's death and an alleged Bollywood-drugs nexus. Top sources have informed Republic Media Network that NCB teams led by Deputy Director KPS Malhotra, Sameer Wankhede and Ashok Jain will w prepare a detailed report which will include every aspect of investigation into alleged drug network in Mumbai. Sources have told Republic that NCB team is of opinion that actors were 'fully prepared for questioning'.

Several big names under NCB scanner

Sources informed that top officer of SIT team will move to Delhi on Monday to submit ir report. NCB chief Rakesh Asthana will personally go through every aspect of probe and central anti-drug ncy is expected to carry out more raids and seizures across Mumbai. NCB has come across several big names during ir interrogation of actors and it is working on a new plan of action, sources ded. 

Sources have also said that Deepika Pukone, Rakul Preet Singh, Shrdha Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan have t been given a clean chit and y might be summoned again for interrogation as NCB is verifying certain claims me by m. While Sara Ali Khan and Shrdha Kapoor were questioned at NCB's zonal office at Ballard Estate, Pukone was questioned at a guest house in Colaba. Shrdha Kapoor reached NCB office around 12 pm and left after six hours, while Sara Ali Khan reached around 1 pm and both left at around 6.10 pm.

Deepika Pukone was confronted with her manr Karishma Prakash during questioning, sources said. Deepika, who reached guest house around 9.50 am, left at 3.50 pm. Prakash, who h been quizzed on Friday too, was also allowed to leave around 3.40 pm. ncy has so far arrested at least 18 persons in se cases.

RE | Bollywood drug probe: NCB to file status report in 3 days; will send to DG Rakesh Asthana

RE | Deepika Pukone denies using or asking for drugs; NCB seizes her phone; verification next

NCB to seek four-day custody of Kshitij Ravi Pras

Meanwhile, NCB will seek four-day custody of Kshitij Ravi Pras after arresting him, on Saturday. As per sources, Pras, who is an executive producer and director previously linked with a top Bollywood production house, has t been ‘t been co-operating’ and giving evasive answers. Kshitij Pras was taken for medical examination ahe of court proceedings. When asked for a response, he said through window of his car, “I’m being framed… Yes, that’s right. y got thing from my house.”

Kshitij Ravi Pras named two Bollywood celebrities and 2 producers during his questioning. He also claimed he was ‘asked to buy’ while revealing a big name to investigating ncy. As per sources, high-profile names used to buy drugs from him.

Denials and feigning igrance a feature of stars' & aides' questioning

Deepika Pukone has denied using or asking for drugs, sources told Republic, ding that she h neless accepted her chats with Jaya Saha and Karishma as part of a WhatsApp group 'DP+Ka+KWAN' in which or KWAN bigwigs were present. NCB is said to have found her statement tutored and was unsatisfied, t ruling out future questioning and confrontation. Meanwhile, Sara Ali Khan and Shrdha Kapoor also denied using drugs in ir respective questionings. While Sara, who was called basis questioning of Rhea Chakraborty, is believed to have told NCB that Sushant Singh Rajput used drugs, Shrdha Kapoor was silent about her chat with Jaya Saha in which y discuss her CBD oil. 

Meanwhile, Karishma Prakash told NCB 'hash isn't drugs' regarding a conversation over which she was questioned, whereas Jaya Saha claimed that people from 'high society' referred to cigarettes as 'doobies and buds' and y weren't drugs.

RE | NCB seizes mobile phones of Deepika, Sara, Rakul Preet & 3 ors amid probe: Sources

RE | Kshitij shouts 'I'm being framed, y got thing from house' as NCB seeks 4-day custody